Her great-uncle, the mage Oron, bequeathed to her his oak-shaded chateau and a debt of magical honor. But Miss Ardhuin Andrews must hide her magical talents. How can she repay the debt? Political intrigue, duty, and echoes of an old war not truly ended combine to create a smoldering crisis in a world where magic and science coexist.

Only one Mage Guardian now defends Aerope from the malevolent plans of Denais and his dreams of conquest and revenge.  Ardhuin desperately tries to make the Allied governments see the danger and replace their murdered Guardians, but the long peace dulls any sense of urgency. Her new husband Dominic fears the Allies consider Ardhuin's phenomenal power sufficient—and in no need of help from their mages. And yet...a weary traveler from the ends of the earth rushes to their home to deliver a message from a man thought dead. A desperate plea for help, invoking the Compact—as only another Mage Guardian would. Does another survive after all? And what new danger threatens the world?

Moire Cameron, former NASA explorer and web pilot, now has a working ship, a loyal crew, an unexpected son, and a valuable Earthlike planet to protect from the clutches of Toren. Then Ennis, the only one to discover her secret, is captured by Toren--and Moire discovers crucial information that could help end the crab-human war. Moire must find a way to rescue Ennis and get the information to Fleet--without getting captured herself--or the war could destroy everything she holds dear.

Nobody mentioned notorious space pirates worried about housing issues, but Moire Cameron must plan for enemy attacks--with even more people to protect than her crew. Increasingly desperate as her options vanish and Toren closes in, can she refuse any alliance? Even with the enemy? The triumphal, action-packed conclusion to the Sequoyah trilogy.